Improvised ‘home-made bomb’ explodes outside flats

A HOME-MADE bomb exploded outside a block of flats.

The fireball created by the explosion was seen on footage recovered from a shop around 300m from the scene in Lancashire Hill, near Stockport town centre, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police were called to Stonemill Terrace, Penny Lane, shortly before 2.10am and cordoned off the area.

GMP said the incident, attended by a hazardous materials officer, was not terror-related.

A garage door was left damaged following the blast.

It is believed that although the device created a significant explosion it was crude and homemade. A GMP spokesman said: “Police and the fire services attended and what is believed to be a home-made explosive device was found on the street.

“The device had partly exploded. An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing.

“There was minor damage to a garage door, but luckily no one was injured during the incident.”

Officers took the CCTV footage from the Best One supermarket, which is at the junction of Penny Lane and Lancashire Hill, around 300m from the explosion.

A fire crew from Whitehill station was sent to the scene following reports of a fire. Firefighters from King Street station were then scrambled.

A fire brigade source said: “Crews turned up to a fire in a car park, and it turned out to be an improvised explosive device which had gone off.”

Call police on 856 9770 or 101.